Discussion 01: Introduction to Group Support
Before we dive into the Group Leadership & Development aspects, it is important to know what 7Cups Group Support.
As per Merriam Webster Dictionary, Group is a number of individuals assembled together or having some unifying relationship. While group dynamics are the attitudinal and behavioral characteristics of a group. It is focused on how groups form, their structure and process, and how they operate. More specifically, why and how groups develop.
This is what you will notice in the 7 Cups Group Support. 7Cups started with providing support 1-1s. But as we grew up, we realized that 1-1s are not enough. There is a need for group interaction as well. To meet the community's needs and demands, we added group support. We created and used chat rooms to structure a safe environment to facilitate group support. We have dedicated chat rooms for both listeners and members to provide support as per their needs.
Currently, we have more than 150+ chat rooms to serve different purposes and needs of both members and listeners community for both adults and teens. Amazing! Right?
We are a vast community and we recognize our diversified members and their needs and demands. And, these chat rooms became safe spaces to connect, interact, engage, learn, share, and grow collectively. These rooms are not only used for support reasons but also to brainstorm and problem solves, celebrate small and big achievements, and gain a sense of belonging to this community.
Moving forward, we identified the needs of moderating these rooms, so we introduced the chat room moderator role, figured out we need facilitators to lead different sessions in the chat rooms, so added Support Session Leader and On-spot Host as the recent addition to it. We figured out the safety issues in the chat rooms, and we badge locked the rooms. So as we learned more about the needs and demands, we kept iterating and evolving group support for better experiences and support for everyone. We are on a journey to build the best group support. And, we will continue to progress …
Discussion: Share 3 highs and 3 lows you experienced in the group support chatroom!
Activity: Respond to at least two of your fellow trainees' comments with thoughts on their share.
After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next discussion here! Ensure to implement the learning from these discussions in the chat rooms to build and support the group. You must take part in the brainstorming/activities given in all of these discussions to successfully complete the program.
@ASilentObserver
Share 3 highs and 3 lows you experienced in the group support chatroom!
3 highs:
the chatrooms I have been in all work together as a team to insure we are all safe and the chat or discussion is being done properly.
The support given to each other that we all are humans and that we do make mistakes and how to learn from them
When things go smoothly it can be a great time for all
3 lows:
I would like to see more support in the rooms opened on their days to have Community Mods come in and show support and help out the RS and Mods.
That those who are not listening to Mods understand that we are just like them and everyone follow the chat room rules
To get more support from those who signed up to either be RS or Mods to come in the chatroom and support the room.
@pamharley003
I love these answers they are well thought out!
I agree we do all support each other, empathy and compassion are a great thing, sorry about your low's as a Chatroom Moderator myself I can relate to the disrespect we sometimes face doing our role
I hope these improve for you <3
Share 3 highs and 3 lows you experienced in the group support chatroom!
3 highs:
1. Everyone is so welcoming to newcomers and helps them settle in right away
2. I felt wonderful when I hosted a successful session and knowing everyone was happy with the session
3. Just the casual banters that helps cheer me up
3 lows:
1. Someone entered the room with swearing and bad words and it brought the atmosphere down
2. Some people who spams and just tries to fight everyone.
3. When the room was silent and not much discussion was going on
@BloomingSakura
Great answers - I agree with your first "high" point everyone is indeed so welcoming and it is lovely to see. In terms of your lows I have been there and seen it first hand I totally agree slow chatrooms are a sad thing :)
@BloomingSakura
Hey Sakura! I agree with your first high, the kindness is something that keeps me coming back time and time again. It was just what I needed when I was new to feel comfortable to share. Love your response! <3
with love,
emmie
@BloomingSakura i can see where you're coming from with the lows ! sometimes, a lot of conflict can happen in the chatrooms <3 however, it can always be deescalated or resolved ! conflict will happen and it is stressful, but things can definitely get better :)
@ASilentObserver
3 Highs:
1) I am always made to feel welcome within my moderation role, everyone is welcoming and respectful of not only myself but others
2) I get to meet new people - Moderating the Newbie Hub I meet so many newcomers and make great friends
3) When the discussions are active - This is great as it allows for a constructive conversation amongst peers
3 Lows:
1) When the chatroom is slow and inactive - This saddens me as it makes hosting very hard as well as making it hard to engage in conversations
2) When I was once disrespected massively in a chatroom - Peer Support helped with this and I was fine shortly after
3) When discussions lack participation - For example Sharing Circle when it is quiet and not a lot of sharers it makes it hard to keep the chat engaged and this was a low for me as I felt like I was not doing enough
@KyleBorg
Hey Kyle! I agree with what you've said about the chatrooms being quiet making engaging hard. It can be especially hard when you're in a position of needing support and not having anybody to give you it but in times were you can't find listeners either. Great job responding! <3
with love,
emmie
hey there!
3 Highs:
1) I remember when I first came on to the cups group support chats, I was met with tons of support and love. This was a really nice and welcoming feeling, something that keeps me coming back time and time again.
2) The best feeling to me is when people you meet in the chat rooms remember you when you come back, it's almost like having a big group of friends who remember and care for each other which makes sharing that much easier.
3) My first Sharing Circle was such a freeing, liberating feeling. Being able to share for a span of time without being interrupted and being loved and coddled is such a wonderful feeling that makes it a lot easier to talk about hard topics like addiction.
3 Lows:
1) There was a time where I had kindly reminded a user of a rule, a big one at that, and rather than being met with "thanks for reminding me" I was met with somebody (who wasn't the person I addressed) calling me an idiot and name calling. In these situations, muting is necessary.
2) My first time being told that my topic was triggering and couldn't be talked about was upsetting but a needed experience. This made me be more aware of what I had wanted to talk about and others boundaries.
3) There was a few times where I would try to share but rather than getting support, I had others who were trying to be supported get upset since nobody was responding to them anymore but rather, to me. While this is upsetting, it's something that is very difficult to deal with in group chats, timing is important for the stuff you say as to not upset or make others feel unimportant.
still, cups is so important to me, the good outweighs the bad <3
with love,
emmie
@YourEmmmie
I'm glad that your good experiences outweigh the bad! 7 cups is such a wonderful place, with so many kind and passionate people. I can definitely relate to your highs as they are some of the reasons, I enjoy participating in the chat rooms. (despite being new to them )
However it can have it's low points, rowdy members and lack of interest in discussions is only one of many. Being active in chat rooms, can be hard sometimes, often I find communicating with people in 1-on-1 chats to be less stressful.
But engaging in group chats, gives you a sense of community, which is a big part of 7 cups. Which I'm glad you enjoy experiencing!
@ASilentObserver
3 highs and 3 lows in the support group chat
1.) They we’re very friendly and interactive.
2.) I felt welcomed and I didn’t have to worry about what to say.
3.) It was my first time in a chat room.
3 lows
1.) It was my first time and I couldn’t spend the rest of the half an hour.
2.) I felt on the second day I was not being paid attention to as if I was being ignored.
3.) It was a good feeling to say bye and thank you although they ignored me.
3 highs and 3 lows of being in LSC
1.) They welcomed me and answered my questions about AMAs.
2.) They gave me links so I could learn from them.
3.) They welcomed me and kept me engaged.
Lows
1.) It felt stagnant.
2.) I did not know how to give advice or answer a certain question.
3.) It was hard to not have the knowledge but I answered and helped by using someone else’s answer from a previous chat in there.
@WhiteRoses25 i can understand not knowing how to answer a question or not feeling as though you're able to help <3 however, it's already such a great thing that you're there and participating ! :)
3 highs
1) Being appreciated for my popup sessions
2) being nominated for badges for being a supportive mod
3) Fun game sessions that turn into a fish market xD
3 lows
1) Empty chatroom when session is hosted
2) reading someone share a sad event that happened to them recently
3) A member being abusive and interrupting the session so much that it had to be terminated
@DonaldDraper
Honestly, reading your post brings such a sense of joy to me! I'm happy that you enjoy the work that you do on 7 cups. I've never hosted a pop up but I've hope to soon, I've been told they're quite an experience! And congratulations on all your badges, it just shows that hard work and being kind, pays off!
It shows that you really care about the people on 7 cups, that one of your lows is having someone share a sad story and having a room be completely empty while a discussion is going on.
You seem like a genuinely caring and emphatic listener, characteristics perfect for a listener, which all, your achievements on 7 cups prove.
Keep up the good work!
@Nyvastark I understand the empty room sessions, especially when hosting LCI because the listener room tends to be very quiet. Sometimes I get sad thinking nobody wants to join but I understand that people are not available 24/7.
@Reemhelp
Yes! Teenie side is very empty at times. Your efforts are appreciated even when not massively noticed ❤
@DonaldDraper
@DonaldDraper
Hi!
●》 Highs
○ hosting my first check in. It was genuinely such a wonderful experience, the participants where all kind and helpful and my cohost was an absolute delight to work with!
○ Having people to talk to outside of 1-on-1 chats. Even though I love being a listener and supporting people, 1-on-1 chats can be extremely taxing and mentally draining. Sometimes you just want to have a light hearted chat or talk to someone who can relate to you.
○ meeting new people, all from different walks of life and genuinely being able to consider them your friends. Like just knowing that so many people care makes me feel all all warm inside!
●》lows
○Being ignored. Sometimes the chats can be so full but none of them are willing to talk to you. It can be quite demotivating and might not make you want to go back.
○entering a dead room. This too can be extremely demotivating, because unlike before, there simply isn't anyone to engage with, it's just completely empty, so all you can do, is comment about the emptiness of the room, and leave too.
○meeting aggressive members/listeners. Having people be extremely problematic and then becoming aggressively defensive of their obviously wrong actions is quite jarring. You never expect it to happen, so when it does its really shocking, because 7 cups is usually such a kind and peaceful community.
@Nyvastark
I remember my first check-in, it was really great too, even though I felt a little lost, but the Mods were so nice! 💜
@Nyvastark
I've run into one or two members who repeatedly state that they get ignored, and they get more and more aggressive about it, all while several people are actively attempting to engage with them. It's only happened a couple of times, but it was sure tricky.
@ASilentObserver
3 highs
1. The community is so welcoming and everyone is so kind
2. I love talking to new people and having discussions to see the world from a different perspective
3. I love doing things such as hosting (even though I have not done many) because its really fun to interact with everyone and do things such as light-hearted riddles.
3 lows
1. Sometimes I get really scared to talk to people, I feel overwhelmed
2. I feel demotivated to interact with others.
3. I meet some people who are a little rude.
@ASilentObserver
3 LOWS:
1. Let's start with the negative, so we can end it on a positive note.
I think one downside for me is that some member chatrooms just "die" and get really inactive. It feels like losing a community, a safe space.
2. On the other hand there are rooms where people are in 5 different conversations at once, and when you enter you have really no idea what is going on.
3. A third low? I can't think of one, I always really enjoyed the rooms, listener rooms as much as member rooms!
3 HIGHS:
1. I really like how people are so open and non-judgemental in the rooms. Everyone just accepts each other for who they are.
2. I also enjoy the sessions a lot, no matter what session it is exactly, or if I am hosting or participating.
3. The last thing I really want to mention is how hard working our Mods are and how helpful everyone else is. If someone is seeking support in a room they will get it.
💜
@MelodyoftheOcean I agree, I think the mods and people put a lot of effort into making this a safe space for everyone :) I also agree about how the chatroom kind of gets empty after a bit, and I really think that more can be done for that!
Highs
1. Members are warm and supportive. It's magnificent. Join us in the Current Events support room. We're all super nice to one another, even while disagreeing. My own family can't manage that.
2. You can always get a different perspective. I mean, we come from so many different walks of life. It's truly amazing. I've learned a ton just from chatting in the group rooms. And it's all done with vulgarity or obscenity thrown around.
3. The classes/hosted discussions are amazingly useful. I've enjoyed them.
Lows
1. I can't relate to most of the mental-health issues on 7 Cups. I've got the basics of life down. Loneliness? I'm your gal. Positivity? I'm there. Caregiving? I'm a pro, let's talk about it. But the heavier stuff? I have no idea what to say. I have empathy, but not sure how to best help. That's one of the reasons that I signed up for GLDD.
2. Some chat rooms aren't popular and don't seem to draw attention. It seems to discourage some members (though I've encouraged them to choose a busier room, because that seems like the obvious answer to me.)
3. It's hard to find the rules, and I think those should be prominent in every chat room, like stickied to the top. Every newbie has to ask (I also had to ask) and it's frustrating.
I could've written 17 highs easily. The chat rooms rock!
